In a bid to increase the role of women, defence minister Manohar Parrikar pitched in an idea of raising an all-women batallion and stationing of women on warships, as the “psychological barriers” have been cleared with a recent induction of three female fighter pilots.
He also suggested to induct women through the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Sainik Schools.
He said: “If the army and navy are openend for women, India will join the small club of countries, like US, Israel, to have this system.”
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
Speaking at a seminar organised by FICCI FLO,the women wing of industry chamber, said he,’ there is a thinking that soldiers will not listen to their Commander officer who is a lady because they are not trained to do so. I don’t agree with this as the only restriction today is the infrastructure.
But the minister made it clear that “affirmative action” for women in the forces would be undertaken “gradually and smoothly” so as not to “compromise” the Army’s primary task of guarding national security. “I will soon sit with the three Service chiefs to decide the way ahead. The only restriction today is that of infrastructure (for training and accommodating women),” said Parrikar. This comes at a time when the US has now lifted the ban on even transgenders joining its military.
Parrikar vowed to convene a meeting with the chiefs of the three forces in this regard.
But Parrikar’s idea of all-women battalions will require drastic changes in the recruitment and training policies because the armed forces have been inducting women only as officers since 1990s. It’s possible for central armed police forces to have “mahilla battalions” since they induct women in “other ranks” as well.
He said that induction of women officers on board warships, of course, would be much easier, with newer machines having separate facilities in terms of cabins. “I don’t understand why we can’t place women on warships. At this stage, I will not support them for operations on submarines since they are designed for ‘unigender’,” he said. Parrikar said there were even demands for Sainik schools to have girl students. But this would serve little purpose if they were not allowed to join the NDA after class XII.
Tags: india Manohar Parrikar
